Munich: A global city with an enquiring mind.

Bavarians hold the trump cards: They are strong in transport + logistics, technology + innovation and medicine + healthcare. The automobile industry serves the entire value added chain for the automotive sector and, thanks to powerful synergy effects, businesses in the IT and medical-technical systems sectors also profit from this strength. In addition, Munich sees itself as an international cluster for high-tech expertise.

Transport + logistics: Automotive is one of the leading sectors both in terms of volume and quality in the greater Munich area. The productive efficiency of this field in the Bavarian capital is based on its wide variety of products, a deep understanding engineering and finely honed innovative abilities. The automobile industry in Munich is characterised by the remarkable breadth of companies delivering supplies and services along the entire value added chain. Not only manufacturers such as BMW, MAN and Audi contribute to the sector's strength in the region, countless high-tech suppliers also play their part. 50 percent of companies in the automotive sector in the Munich metropolitan region are suppliers and a further 40 percent provide specialised services. The Federal Ministry of Transport declared Munich as one of eight model regions for electromobility around Germany.

Due to the strong presence of the information and communications sector, Munich is one of the most powerful German locations in technology + innovation and one of the pillars of Munich's economic development with around 29,000 companies and 370,000 employees. Synergies with the automotive, aerospace and medical-technical sectors have also resulted in the development of another important sector - embedded systems. State institutions and dedicated sector initiatives are advancing the development of the location. Research and education are also of a high international standard. Until 2008, the Systems trade fair took place in Munich. Today, a number of annual sector events attract the international IT and ITC community to the Bavarian capital.

Medical-technical systems, like the entire medicine + healthcare sector, is one of the most important engines of growth in Germany and Munich. Some 230 mostly young, flexible companies represent the highest levels of technical expertise and innovation. Companies based in Munich focus in particular on mechatronics, telemedicine, minimally invasive technologies, computer aided procedures and process systems. The region is estimated to produce approx. 60 percent of electro-medical instruments and 30 percent of all medical-technical systems in Germany with around 70 percent of these destined for export. As an outstanding location for technology, business and health, Munich also has an excellent medical and clinical infrastructure.

Munich's important high-tech cluster enjoys a great international reputation and can, among other things, be traced back to its outstanding scientific landscape. There are 14 renowned universities and universities of applied sciences in the city. In addition, Munich is home to the Fraunhofer Society, the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science with its general administration department and 12 further establishments as well as the Helmholtz Centre.